Panel heaters and pilot wires - how do they work?

[sparkol]

I’ve been asked to replace a faulty panel heater. Existing model is a Creda RF/E420. It’s in a flat that was built 5-10 years ago. It has panel heaters in every room which are controlled from a central programmer.

The flex from the FCU going into the heater has 4-cores: L, N and E in the usual colours, plus a black wire. I’m guessing the black wire will be a pilot wire that tells the heater when to turn on and off. Am I right?

The panel heater was discontinued a few years ago. Can I replace the heater with any panel heater that takes a pilot wire, or does it have to be the same model, or what? Don’t really understand pilot wires (yet).

Thanks in anticipation.

 

[telectrix]

at a guess, the black might be a permanent L for some purpose. if they have a timer. it will be to run the timer clock.

 

[oldtimer]

Why don't you google the manual ?

View attachment CredaRFHeaters.pdf

 

[sparkol]

Why don't you google the manual ?

View attachment 18445

I've googled the manual for one or two newer Creda heaters and they don't say whether you can reuse the pilot wire from the old version. I was hoping someone on here would have come across this issue before.

 

[capa666]

i would speak with Creda technical and hear it from the horses mouth IMO... you know your not wasting any further time or money for the sake of a phone call, sure they will be happy to advise.